Author's Note
Hi guy's I know I haven't uploaded in 2 years... Due to this, I will give a brief explanation regarding my absence at the end of this chapter as you all have waited long enough for this chapter.
Enjoy this chapter and please review because I would like to know if people are still interested in this story. Also thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story and continued to do so through my 2 year break. x
Emma's POV
I feel so weak. I know I'm conscious, but it feels like I'm not. I feel like those people who say that they woke up undergoing surgery. Except, I'm not going to wake up, this is not going to feel like a distant memory that I can forget.
Why do I seem to draw these sick people that want to try and fix me? How many foster parents have tried to fix me? How many foster parents have demonised me to be someone who is broken and needs to be fixed? How many times have I had to fight for my life because someone thought I needed saving? I'm sick and tired of people trying to fix me! I just want to be left alone; I didn't ask for this. I don't want help! I don't need it! I haven't hurt anyone; I haven't done anything wrong; No one knows I'm a Hybrid. I haven't killed anyone, so why are they doing this?
"I know it hurts now, but this is for the greater good. We can't have you loose, who knows when you will start killing people in this town"
"I don't need your help!" I tried to say with as much conviction, but it was as if my voice wasn't my own. I sounded like I hadn't spoken for weeks, as if I had been deprived of liquid for weeks. It's only then I realise how thirsty I was. Whether that was for water or blood I wasn't sure.
"You do, you're just in denial. That's OK though, so were many others, but I managed to help them. I made them realise the disgrace they were to human life before they begged me to help them, to cure them, and you will to"
"Please, just let me go"
"You know I can't do that"
"Why are you doing this?!"
"I want to help you Emma. I won't allow the saviour to remain a monster"
A wave of fear rushes through my body as I realise that this person won't be letting me go anytime soon. I don't know if they will keep me here forever, or whether I will even make it out of this place alive.
I know I need to focus on something else. I always used to watch shows about what to do if you're kidnapped. I know you need to gain as much information as possible about your surroundings. Since I can't do that, I need to try and figure out who this is. Not many people know what I am. It has to be someone who knows I'm a Hybrid, someone who hates what I am. I feel like I know who this person is, but why is it so hard to place them? What the hell did they do to me? Why does it feel so hard to put a face to this person?!
"Who are you?"
"I will tell you eventually, just not yet"
"Why can't I place your voice, it sounds familiar, what did you do to me?!"
"It's not really what I did to you, it's more what I did to this room. Don't worry about who I am for now, just know I'm here to help"
A hand runs over my arm before an unknown object pierces my skin.
"This will prevent your body from healing itself; we can't have your body fighting my magic. If we want to cure you, we can't have that happening"
I felt an overwhelming need to claw the foreign object out of my body. It's only until then do I realise that my arms are bound down. The burning ache in my wrist intensifies due to my struggles.
"Fighting me will only cause you more pain Emma"
As soon as the words left the persons mouth the unmistakable sounds of bones snapping echoed through the room, before I felt excruciating pain in my hand. I let out a scream as the pain shot through my arm, as my body tried to transform so I could break free from whatever was holding me hostage and claw the foreign object out of me.
"Interesting. I have never seen this happen before; With as much Wolfbane and Vervain that is in your system you shouldn't be able to transform at all. It must have to do with the fact that you're a Hybrid. I'm going to double your dosage"
"No!"
"It will only hurt for a little while"
"Is that what you tell all the people you torture?! You crazy bitch!" I Scream out breathless due to the pain.
"I don't torture people, I help them. You should count yourself lucky that I care about you or this process could be much worse. I could have started on stage three"
"What the fuck is stage three?" I ask trying to focus on anything else other than this pain. Apart of me doesn't want to know. If this was only the beginning then I don't know if I want to know what stage three is, or how many more stages there are. I just hope that maybe if I keep the person talking then they will forget about whatever they were going to do.
"Stage three is where I teach my subjects to hate the idea of transforming into their wolf form. I associate transforming with pain. I do this by bleeding you out, which means I will no longer need magical objects to prevent you from healing. If you don't have a certain amount of blood in your system, your body will stop healing itself.
I will leave just enough blood to prevent you from dying or in your case to prevent you from desiccating. If your body cannot heal you can only imagine how trying to transform into your wolf form will turn out. It will be worse than your first transformation.
Once you are bled out, I will force you to transform at will, you will feel every bone break, you will want to die, many people do die at this stage. As you can imagine several broken bones can be a strain on someone's body. Then I give a little blood to the subject, so I can repeat the process until I deem fit"
I feel like I'm going to be sick, how can this person say it with such ease. They are so concerned with me killing people in this town yet their OK with killing people for the 'greater good'.
"But don't worry, I will ease you into stage three however, we will start stage two tomorrow. We have to move quickly before people realise your missing and start looking for you. Not that they will find you, but it's better to work with no suspicions. Before you start stage three, you'll go through tests with my partner here"
"Hello Emma, I know you are confused as to why you're here, but as my partner said she is here to help you. I however; I am here to study you. I would like to study on how your body heals, and how much damage your body can take. I know your body can heal small cuts really quickly but, I'll like to see how your body reacts to deeper cuts, life threatening wounds. This will be a painful process; however, it will at least prepare you for what is to come. Studying you and your blood could help save many peoples lives"
"You're both sick"
I could feel whatever was covering my eyes become damp with my tears.
I'm going to lose everything all because of this curse, all because I didn't stay away from Gold.
I'm going to die in here. There is no way I am getting out of this place. I'm never going to see Regina, Henry, Ruby, my parents, or Neal again. I didn't even leave things well with any of them, they're all going to remember how I let them down in some way, or how I wasn't enough for them.
I'm going to die with my baby brother growing up to find out his big sister abandoned him for months before I died. I'm going to die with Henry thinking I didn't want to spend time with him, that he wasn't important enough for me to put my jealousy aside, so I could spend time with him. My parents are going to think I hated them, which is not true. I was angry at them for not accepting me and this curse, but it doesn't mean I don't still love them. I have always wished to have a family, and once I got one, I screwed everything up.
Maybe I shouldn't have pushed Regina to leave Robin, maybe they're supposed to be together. Maybe if I left her alone, we would still be friends right now, and everything wouldn't be messed up. Maybe I should have just taken what she was willing to give me. Now I'm going to die and the last thing I would have told Regina to do is to get out of my apartment. I won't even get to say goodbye to anyone.
The only person I didn't completely screw things up with is Ruby, maybe she will be able to tell them what I couldn't. Maybe she will be able to tell them that I love them and that I'm sorry things had to end this way.
If I do manage to get out of here, I will make this right, I swear I will. I will try to fix all my relationships with the people I love. Just please let me be able to get out of here.
I'm immediately brought out of my thoughts from the feeling of something large and sharp forcing it's way into my side. It felt as if the person was trying to cut me into two.
Regina's POV
God everything hurts! All I can think about is the pain. I have never felt anything like this before. Mother used several physical tactics to get me to be obedient, but this pain is nothing like I have ever experienced. it's as if someone has poured acid on my body.
I scraped at my arms, trying to pull off my blazer hoping this action would provide me some relief. It doesn't
"Regina? What's wrong? Talk to me!
Maleficent grabs my arms to get my attention, I shout in protest and she immediately releases her hold.
I feel like I'm going to die. I could feel my chest tightening due to the way my heart was pounding at a dangerous rate. I feel like I can't breathe.
"Please make it stop" I beg several times breathlessly.
"Make what stop? Regina what's wrong? What hurts?!"
"Em-Emma!" I cry out hoping she would understand what I meant. That something was wrong, that whatever I was feeling Emma was living.
"Emma?"
My body heaved and jerked as it tried to escape the inhumane agony. It felt like fire was moving through my veins. Death would be more merciful than this pain.
I tried to focus on the fact that this pain at least told me that Emma didn't leave Storybrooke. That she didn't leave me. But then apart of me almost wishes that she did leave because then maybe she would be OK. That she wouldn't be feeling this pain. That I wouldn't have to feel her pain knowing I could do nothing to stop it. I could do nothing but curl into a foetal position as I waited for the pain to subside.
Not only can I do nothing to help her at this moment, but I don't even know where she is. I don't know if she's alone, I don't know if she's inflicting pain on herself or if she's in trouble, if something happened to her. I've always been able to get rid of her pain, yet I can't do that this time.
I know Emma; I have to believe that she wouldn't inflict pain on herself to this magnitude. As much as I don't want it to be, I know something is wrong. Someone has her, this is Storybrooke after all. There's always a villain out for revenge or some other motive. But who? Who would it be this time?
I don't know how long I was in the foetal position.
The sweat from the aspirations blending with the tears that streamed down my face.
"I'm going to get you something that will help. I'll be right back"
The panicked voice sounded so far away, barely there. Questioning whether the voice was real or whether I was imagining this voice. This person who promised relief.
"Don't! Don't leave me!" I beg the person with the last piece of strength I had left.
I don't want to be alone. Not now, not ever.
"I'm not leaving you, I promise"
That was the last thing I heard before a searing pain shot through my hands and up my arms. My screams silenced as my throat seemed to close up, it was as if my body didn't have the will to scream anymore. As if my voice was stolen. My throat completely dry due to my previous screams.
I do the only thing that I know will stop this pain, that will allow me to be free. To no longer feel what I assume is the pain of several bones breaking in more than one place.
I reach my hand into my chest grabbing the beating organ and without a second thought I squeeze. Not an easy task to do with the feeling of several bones being broken.
My mind tells me that I should not be able to move my hands or arms due to the broken bones and torn ligaments. Yet I continue to try and squeeze the organ and I gasp as I felt the life slowly leave my body.
"Regina? Regina What the hell are you doing?!"
The pain intensifies as I continue to try and squeeze.
I just need to squeeze a little harder then the pain will stop.
The beating heart disappears from my grasp.
No!
My body is forcefully pulled into a kneeling position with my back pressed against a firm yet soft object, before an unknown substance is forced down my throat.
"Drink!"
Some of the liquid made it's way down my throat while large amounts of the liquid escaped my mouth as I broke out into a coughing fit.
"Drink Regina!"
Large amounts of the bitter liquid made its way down my throat, as a hand tilts my head up making sure no liquid escaped this time.
I felt the emptiness in my chest dissipate as the beating organ was returned back to its rightful place before everything went black.
...
"How long has she been out cold?"
"About an hour. Where the hell have you been?"
"Wow, you almost sound like you care for her"
"Ursula now is not the time for your jealous outbursts. Did you bring all the things I asked you to get?"
"Of course"
"Good because she's going to need this as soon as she wakes up"
"Why does she need a pain suppressant potion?"
"You didn't see what I did. You didn't hear the way she screamed. I have heard torturous screams before, enjoy them even… But the way she was screaming, I've never heard someone scream like that, and that's saying a lot for someone like me"
"Look, it looks like she's waking up now. No need to worry about sleeping beauty here. What is it with you and putting people to sleep?"
"Call me sleeping beauty again and I will filet your ass"
I tried to sound as intimidating as possible but its hard to do when you feel like you've been hit by a truck.
What the hell happened?
"Regina, do you remember what happen?"
As soon as those words left Maleficent's mouth the memories of what happened entered my mind in quick flashes. My mind tries to process what just happened, tries to process the pain that was once there that is now gone.
I feel my heart begin to race in fear as I wait for the pain to return.
Maleficent clearly sees the fear on my face and immediately tries to sooth them.
"Ursula brought a pain suppressant, I already injected it into your blood stream, you shouldn't feel any pain for a while. If you do, let me know"
"Thank you"
As much as I hate how vulnerable I sound; I am thankful for both their help.
"What happened Regina? You were fine one minute then you were on the floor screaming"
I tried to sit up and it was only then I realised I was laying down on Maleficent's couch.
"I don't know"
"I need more than that Regina; you had your heart in your hand!"
"You almost sound like you care" I smirk.
I don't want to think about that fact, that I was only seconds away from crushing my own heart. What that even means for me. God, I don't want to think about what that means for Emma. Did I do that because I was in pain or because Emma was projecting those feelings onto me?
"That's what I said" Ursula gave Maleficent an irritated look.
What's going on between them?
"I'm I not supposed to care? Should I have just left you to crush your own heart?"
"I don't have time for this"
I ignore her worried tone.
I know Maleficent cares; she is one of the few people in this world who isn't the Charming's who actually gives a damn about me. She is someone that I can actually call a friend, regardless of the fact that I cursed her to remain in her dragon form for 30 years. Nevertheless, I don't want to think about what happened. I can't.
"I need to find Emma"
"That's all you're going to say. Really Regina?"
"There's nothing else to say Mal"
"And how are you going to find Emma? You don't even know were she is, if she's even still in Storybrooke. What if what happened to you only an hour ago happens again?"
"I know she's in Storybrooke!"
"You had me flying around the whole of this town because you didn't know where she was" She hisses out.
I know she is concerned but I don't have the energy for this. Emma needs me. I know that pain was hers and the thought alone makes me sick.
I get up to leave and as soon as I do Maleficent grabs my hand.
"What aren't you telling me?"
"I don't have time for this" I try to pull my arm from her hold, but she tightens her grip.
"Mal just wants to help you Regina, not that you deserve it"
"You know nothing of what I deserve!"
"Regina calm down. Me and Ursula can help you. I want to help you"
"How do I know that you don't have anything to do with Emma's disappearance? You have been trying to get in her head ever since you found out she was a Hybrid. Making comments about our past"
"Please. Don't flatter yourself Regina, you were good but not that good"
"So, she was good? I thought you were over her?"
"Are you really doing this right now" Maleficent growled.
I use Maleficent momentary distraction to pull my hand from her grasp and I wave my hand expecting to disappear in a cloud of purple smoke. When nothing happens, I wave my hand again trying to call my magic only to feel nothing.
"What did you do?!"
I grab at Maleficent's blazer pulling her so that our bodies were only centimetres apart. Before my hand made its way around her neck.
"Regina calm down" Ursula tries to defuse the situation trying to release my hold around Maleficent's neck.
"You always were melodramatic"
I tighten my hold at Maleficent's words.
"She gave you a pain suppressant. Clearly your magic was causing you pain, now let her go before I make you"
"I like to see you try"
I release my hold and Maleficent pushing her back forcefully. She stumbles back and fixes her blazer as if nothing happened.
"You came to me Regina, you asked for my help to find your saviour remember? You are in my home. I cannot do that if you keep things from me, or if you try to attack me. Clearly what happened had something to do with the saviour"
I wanted to deny what she was saying but I couldn't, she was right. I did come to her because I needed her help. My stubbornness and my pride is what got me in the predicament in the first place. Being too afraid about my feelings is also the reason why I am in this predicament, if I just told Emma how I felt we would be home right now cuddling on the couch watching stupid movies.
I let out a deep sigh getting ready to let someone else who isn't Emma into our little bubble.
"We have a blood bond" I sigh out defeated.
"Me and Emma, it was created when I drank from her for the first time. It's been getting stronger over the past few weeks. It was easy to ignore because she was staying with me. So, it was easy to ignore the need to be near each other as we were around each other every day. It was only until she left that I realised how strong it became. The ache that I started to feel due to her not being around. We would always try to seek the other out regardless of the circumstances, I don't even know if she realised it. That even though she was angry with me, she still wanted to be in my presence.
You know even when she's angry with me, I've always known that she was OK. Well physically.
I've always been able to sense her presence, no matter how far she was. But when I tried to focus on our link it was if the link was broken, as if she was gone. It wasn't like the last time she prevented me from finding her through the use of magic. I don't even know if she stopped me, or if it was her emotions projecting themselves that prevented me from actually going to her.
What I do know is I've always been able to know that she was OK. I was able to feel her in a way that I cannot describe. I had a feeling of completion until a few hours ago. When I tried to use our blood bond to find her, it was as if it was non-existent, as if something had stripped it away. I was certain she had left Storybrooke because of this, as much as I didn't want to believe it; that would be the only explanation. But then I felt the pain, a pain like I have never felt before which lets me know she still in Storybrooke, whoever or whatever is blocking our bond isn't strong enough to stop her from projecting her pain to me. Which lets me know that what I felt is not even close to what she is going through"
I roughly wipe the tear that escaped my eyes. I won't let them see me break down. Plus, crying won't help Emma.
"Whatever or whoever has Emma is going to regret the day they decided to hurt her, because when I am done with them. They will wish for death, pray for it even"
"Before you think about committing a massacre, we need to focus on the fact that you have a blood bond with the saviour. I don't know why it didn't occur to me that you would have created one. You would have had no choice but to do so" Maleficent states before giving me a thoughtful look.
"Were going to have to use your blood bond to find the saviour. It will be painful because you won't be able to use the pain suppressant, your blood bond is what is causing the pain, so blocking the pain also blocks the bond"
"Obviously, even I could have told you that. The question is are you willing to go through the pain to find your saviour. If the pain was as bad as Mal made it sound; so much that you were willing to crush your own heart. Do you think you will be able to go through it again?"
I want to say of course I would be willing to go through the pain again. Slap Ursula upside the head for even questioning otherwise, but I know I would be lying if I didn't admit to even myself that I feared having to go through the pain again. That doesn't mean I won't do it. I will go through the pain again if it means getting Emma back. I must, no I need to find Emma and I will tear up this town to shreds to do so.
"Before we do that, is there anyone who you think may have Emma. I know you have many enemies but is there someone who you pissed off recently?"
As much as I want to be offended by Maleficent's words, I know she didn't ask me that to be malicious. But, she's right I do have a lot of enemies in this town. But who would go as far as to hurt the saviour?
Zelena! She has to have Emma. Why didn't I think of that? How could I be so stupid?
"My sister"
"You have another sister? Why am I not surprised" Ursula laughs out.
"No" I roll my eyes.
"Zelena"
"Isn't she dead?"
"Well maybe if you let me finish my sentence then maybe you would have a better understanding" I hiss out at the sea witch.
"Why are you here anyway?"
"If it wasn't for me you wouldn't even be able to stand right now because of your so called blood bond. I wonder if the saviours still in pain at the moment?"
Magic be damned, I will kill this bitch.
"I don't need magic to kill you. Don't forget that"
"That's enough! Both of you are acting like children"
"It's not my fault she doesn't know how to be grateful"
"I said that was enough Ursula. Regina, continue"
"As I was saying, Zelena's back. Some how she managed to use a glamor spell to take Robin's wife's appearance"
"So, what happened to Robin's wife?" The confusion was clear on Maleficent's face.
"She said she killed her. She did all of that because she wants to take any piece of happiness I have, she made that very clear. So, she has to have Emma"
"Then we start with Zelena. I'm assuming she would have used a cloaking spell on herself to hide her location, but if we use mine and Ursula's magic along with your blood magic, we should be able to locate her"
"And if Zelena doesn't have her?" Ursula says the one thing I don't want to consider. I need Emma to be with Zelena, because at least I know she wouldn't kill Emma without me being present. She would want to see my reaction, and I know because of her need to hurt me so much she will make a mistake. I cannot say the same for any other person.
"We will cross that bridge once we reach it, but if she is not with Zelena then we will need to use your blood bond to find Emma. Which means you will have to feel any pain she does. Emma being in pain would probably be the best time to do it as her magic will be calling out to yours for help. Me and Ursula will do all we can to make the pain as bearable as possible, but you will feel pain"
Maleficent walks up to me placing a comforting hand on my shoulder giving it a slight squeeze. "Don't worry Regina, we will find your saviour"
"Are you two just going to stand there and hug or are we going to make this potion? You know I have better things to do than save the saviour"
"No one asked you to be here. You can go I don't need your help?"
I know that's not true; I need all the help I can get. But if she is going to be like this the whole time, I would rather call the handless wonder for help.
"What? And miss all the fun and cinematics between the saviour and her Queen? I think not"
"Once I find Emma-"
"I take gift cards. However, a thank you card will do"
I take in a deep breath to try and calm my internal rage.
"I can make you an apple pie. It's to die for"
Whether I like it or not, I need both Ursula and Maleficent's help to find Emma. That is her only saving grace. Plus killing them both takes time away from me finding Emma, and I don't have time for petty games when Emma's in trouble.
Pushing passed Ursula I make my way to the door.
"Meet me in my vault in 15 minutes, bring everything you need"
Not waiting for a response, I leave Maleficent's home leaving the front door open.
"She's always been one to have a dramatic exit" Maleficent rolls her eyes.
Author's Note:
I am sure many of you are curious as to why I haven't uploaded for 2 years. There are a few reason, many which are personal, so I will try be as detailed as possible.
After my last update in December I fell really sick; I caught the flu, a chest infection, and pneumonia and I was omitted into the hospital. Once I recovered I had to focus on not loosing my previous job due to my sickness. Throughout the two years I was also omitted into the hospital another 2 times for surgeries to do with something else (Which I rather not go into detail for), and I was on several medications for my up coming surgeries which affected my moods and emotions. I also was going through child traumas once I returned home from university. Basically, I wasn't in the physical or mental mind set to write anything.
A lot has happened in the past two years; I also stopped watching OUAT and I no longer liked the characters that I had come to love, so I didn't enjoy writing anymore. I also don't read or write the type of genres that a lot of my published stories fall under, which also deterred me from writing. I don't like writing or reading stories were someone is being emotionally or physically abused. For that reason and several others, I can confirm all of my other stories have been discontinued.
However, I can say that I do want to finish this story. I have planned this story out and believe it or not, I do know were this story is going and how it's going to end. I actually enjoy this story and I do plan to finish it.
I won't promise that I will upload every week. I have a very demanding job and I won't always have the time to upload weekly. However, I do not plan to go on another two year break... I can say you should see another update soon.
I'm going to end with saying please let me know if you are still interested in this story, as this will also be the deciding factor as to how often I update.
Once again, thank you to everyone who has reviewed my story. For those who reviewed my story while I was away, you gave me the push that I needed, so thank you.
Until next time. x
